Toughening and reinforcing alumina matrix composite with single-wall carbon nanotubes

This is the authors' abstract. We don't add key points for this paper.

The authors report an efficient way of incorporating single-wall carbon nanotubes (SWNTs) into alumina matrix with strong interfaces by heterocoagulation. The fracture toughness of SWNTs/Al2O3 composite reaches 6.40±0.3MPam1∕2, which is twice as high as that of unreinforced alumina. The flexure strength of the composite also increases by 20%. The main toughening mechanism is crack bridging of SWNTs, and SWNT pullout takes effect also.